by Devin McCue, Sumner Newscow — The Wellington City Council met last week for a surprisingly short meeting before the holidays to pass some significant legislation.

The key item passed last week was the first ordinance on the agenda, which finally established the Land Bank. Wellington officials have been workshopping and setting up the Land Bank for nearly a year and hope it will be pivotal for the town’s image.

A Land Bank is a popular tool used around Kansas in similar-sized communities to purchase and rehabilitate tax-delinquent properties. Once the City repurposes the land, it will be converted for public use or other productive activity.

The ordinance passed unanimously, but there’s still a lot of work to do before the Land Bank is up and running. A governing body comprised of the Mayor and City Councilmembers will oversee the Land Bank. Still, the operations will be handled by the City Manager and several City staff appointed by him, known as the Board of Trustees. After those are chosen, they will determine the governing structure, bylaws, budgets, etc., required for operations.

The hope is with the Land Bank off the ground, it will spark developmental revitalization by cleaning up much of the plight in Wellington.

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Another significant event at the meeting was the amended 2022 budget. Every year, the City budget must be reevaluated to reflect the actual revenues and expenses incurred that year. The good news for 2022 is that the City came out with more revenue in every fund amended, but that also means we spent more money during the year with that extra cash, which can affect the balance sheet in various ways.

There were five funds amended budget items from last week’s Tuesday meeting:

1. Special Liability Fund
   1. Revenue exceeded the adopted 2022 amount due to a higher refund from the city insurance company: EMC.
   2. Expenses also exceed 2022 budget due mostly from equipment breakdown and coverage of the steam plant.
2. Tourism and Convention Fund
   1. Revenue exceeded the allotted amount with the addition of ARPA funds.
   2. Expenses also exceeded because they awarded $150,000 of those funds to businesses in town.
3. Municipal Golf Course Fund
   1. Revenue went up from 2021 carryover and recreation licenses.
   2. Expenses went up from aging carts and heavy tournament schedules.
4. Municipal Airport Fund
   1. Revenue went up due to fuel income, plus the sale of the airport vehicle
5. Electric, Water, and Sewer Fund
   1. The Healthcare Authority forbearance payments beginning in February 2022 increased revenue by $330k.
   2. Expenses for electricity and natural gas went up as well as increased repair costs across the departments.

If you’re interested in a more complete analysis, you can find the entire amended 2022 budget on page 37 of the agenda packet here.

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There’s big news in the trash can for 2023.

Over the last several years, the garbage collection service and transfer station have been operating at a loss. This is due to some lost business from Wichita and other extenuating circumstances. The bottom line is the collection cash reserves are down to a dismal (by City standards) $15,000.

In order to build those reserves back up, as well as replace some collection trucks and purchase a backhoe for the landfill, the Council unanimously approved an increase to collection fees. They amount to:

1. $1 per ton increase to MSW and C&D at the transfer station;
2. $3 per month increase for residential and 10% commercial increase.

The increases will create an additional $150,000 for the fund and be reflected in your February collection bill.

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The City council also heard it will be paying a little more than they expected in 2023 for the bridge construction project on U.S. 160 near Countryside Motors. The ensuing water line relocation project at the US 160 bridge bids came in higher than expected.

A 14-inch water line replacement is needed just west of the Dollar General and the City hoped to combine the effort with a construction project KDOT needed in the same area. Unfortunately, KDOT is pushing their project back to April, but the City needs to book its contractors now.

So, the Council unanimously booked the services of Superior Excavating, LLC out of Valley Center for $131,000 to get started early next year. KDOT will meet with them later on.

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The final three binding actions of the meeting were a little less flashy.

•One resolution was a tentative agreement to do business with Back 2 Roots, LLC, once they complete purchase of Sumner Cable.

•The other two resolutions dealt with rezoning a piece of agricultural land into a residential plots.

All three motions passed unanimously, and the Council adjourned after a brief 26 minutes.

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